THe other day I had tried installing my M Performance grills by taking off the screws and clips on the bumper per the DIY process. It was a PITA and I could not get the grills off! I gave up and figured I would try it another time.

Based on feedback I read on here, I took the route of trying to pull them off without doing any removal of screws and clips. I just got back home from a meeting and the engine was hot after having sat in stop and go traffic so I gave it a try. Done! They popped off! The bottom was a bit of a challenge but some force and wiggling, it let loose. Far easier way to do it.

Good job. I tried that cowboy pull a few times with the car hot, but to no avail. I finally did the screw removal route. I like how this DIY makes a quick note of pulling out the grille (after removing the screws). That's the hardest part! I almost gave up myself. As many said, that bumper is strong. I got my knuckles cut and arms scraped to the meat. It was a PITA, but worth it. Thanks again for this DIY.

I was able to swap out my grills today without unscrewing and pulling off the seals. I used a little plastic razor blade to unlock all of the clips. Also, I used blue painters tape just to be safe. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

I installed Turner Motorports flat black grilles on my space gray car within a month of buying the car, but over the months since then I found that the black was too much. I saw in the forum a couple of DIY'ers who used a combination of original and modified grilles and decided to try it. I have the original grilles in the car again, but the grille surrounds are now painted space gray and the vertical fins are the original chrome leading edge. I think that I like this much more on my car than I liked the all-black look.

That was brutal. Before I found this post, I had gone outside to pop the hood, and I realized it might not be so easy to install my new grill. Next, I searched the web, knowing somebody had to have put a tutorial for this online somewhere, and I was pleased to see that it really wasn't that difficult of a task. So I thought. Simply put...it took me about two hours, a hacksaw blade to cut out the slats of the OEM grill, bloody knuckles, and some serious yanking on the grill to get the damn things out! Maybe BMW made the fit tighter on the clips in 2013. Anyway...total pain in the butt, but I still feel it was worth it. Before and after pics...

Yours is the first car's photos I've seen posted with the surrounds painted a light color and the slats in black. You should add your photos to this thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=651028
So those that follow may make an educated choice when modding a light colored car.
Nice work!

Thanks, MWPos! Yeah, I cleaned the blood off before the pic! My wife was by my side trying to assist until I started cussing at my grill and pulled out the hacksaw...she feared for her own safety at that point, I believe. I really do like the end result (maybe I'll post the pics on the forum you suggested, too). I'm not sure why mine was so difficult, but maybe the cold weather made the plastic tabs stiffer. Now it's time to figure out what my next mod will be.

Thanks, MWPos! Yeah, I cleaned the blood off before the pic! My wife was by my side trying to assist until I started cussing at my grill and pulled out the hacksaw...she feared for her own safety at that point, I believe. I really do like the end result (maybe I'll post the pics on the forum you suggested, too). I'm not sure why mine was so difficult, but maybe the cold weather made the plastic tabs stiffer. Now it's time to figure out what my next mod will be.

Yeah it took me less then 30 minutes to do this DIY and I and I had no problems at all.
I recently helped out another local forum member who said he was having a hard time.
For some reason his car was a lot harder and I scratched up my entire arms doing it for him

Well I went out and gave this a try and no luck. I have a 550 so I wonder if there is less space. After I took the screws out I had maybe an inch to work with. Should I use a long screw driver to push down on the top tabs? How do I get to the bottom ones? Maybe a precision hook shaped tool would work?
Also, It looks like the chrome ring and plastic fins are seperate parts so I could spray the fins black. I have dark graphite so I dont know how it would look totaly blacked out.

Another option is vinyl - Anyone know where I can find black vinyl for the fins?

Thanks for the help!

Here's mine..same color car as yours. Before, after, and close up. Basically Its a 20 min job if yours come out easily and you've planned a bit. I read all the posts prior to doing it so I was sure I understood what is going on and what was attached and needed to be reattached. GL

Yeah it took me less then 30 minutes to do this DIY and I and I had no problems at all.
I recently helped out another local forum member who said he was having a hard time.
For some reason his car was a lot harder and I scratched up my entire arms doing it for him

Well, as difficult as it was, I'm really glad you posted the DIY, because I might not have even tried it had I not seen your step-by-step instructions.

I'm new to the forum, and I'm having a lot of fun seeing everybody's modifications. In fact, this is my first BMW, and I don't think I'll ever buy a different brand of car! I love my 528, and it gets great gas mileage on my commute, but I was really torn between a new 2012 550 (gray) and my white 2013 528. They were about the same price, with similar options, but I just love white on black. It would have been a different story if the 550 was white! Anyway, the next BMW I get will need more power!!

Well, as difficult as it was, I'm really glad you posted the DIY, because I might not have even tried it had I not seen your step-by-step instructions.

I'm new to the forum, and I'm having a lot of fun seeing everybody's modifications. In fact, this is my first BMW, and I don't think I'll ever buy a different brand of car! I love my 528, and it gets great gas mileage on my commute, but I was really torn between a new 2012 550 (gray) and my white 2013 528. They were about the same price, with similar options, but I just love white on black. It would have been a different story if the 550 was white! Anyway, the next BMW I get will need more power!!

I followed the DIY, took me about 45 mins. The hardest part was getting the grill out...boy scraped the knuckles and got the hands dirty, but so well worth it. You guys are right, the front bumper is very strong, its hard to really break it...so you can bend quite a bit. I also took the opportunity to get the bottom grill painted as well. Just picked up "flat black" from the local hardware store it matched perfect. I got the one that has the primer already in the paint (just in case). Took the pics right after, so the car is pretty dirty...but lovin it.

This write up was great. I decided to use the "pull and tug" method. I looked at removing the screws and chickened out...

So I left the car after driving it for 20 min in the sun. As I have read from those that have done this, I grabbed both sides of the grill on each end. I gently pulled equally on all sides slowly. I could see that the whole grill was coming out. I did have to give a tug at the end to come out. I have to admit that the first one made a pop noise that scared me. But it came out perfect. I placed my new one (bought on E*ay for $65 and Free Ship) in and was very happy the way looked. Took a pic and moved on to the second one. I was done in 10 min. Took some pics and really like the way it looked.

This write up was great. I decided to use the "pull and tug" method. I looked at removing the screws and chickened out...

So I left the car after driving it for 20 min in the sun. As I have read from those that have done this, I grabbed both sides of the grill on each end. I gently pulled equally on all sides slowly. I could see that the whole grill was coming out. I did have to give a tug at the end to come out. I have to admit that the first one made a pop noise that scared me. But it came out perfect. I placed my new one (bought on E*ay for $65 and Free Ship) in and was very happy the way looked. Took a pic and moved on to the second one. I was done in 10 min. Took some pics and really like the way it looked.